Flying abroad? Choose well!
The holiday season is just around the corner. If you haven’t yet decided where you’re going to go, there’s nothing to lose! Keep in mind, however, that not every destination will be a good choice. Discover the 12 dangerous holiday countries to avoid in 2024.
Safety is one of the main criteria on which we choose our holiday destination. For many people, the impeccable reputation of the holiday destination is as important as the price of the trip, the list of attractions, the characteristics of the local culture or the quality of the hotel, among others.
Ranking 12 places you shouldn’t go on holiday in 2024
A country’s security is determined, among other things, by the annual Global Peace Index, a 163-item report by the Sydney Institute and Peace. Tourists can also check the threat level in a special guide from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Planning a holiday abroad? Check out our list of 12 destinations , which you should reject without a second thought.
Mexico
The list of dangerous tourist countries opens with a country in the south of North America. It entices with its intriguing history and spectacular attractions, such as one of the seven new wonders of the world Chichén Itzá, Los Cabos or the capital, Mexico City.
It is, however, a very dangerous country. There is an extremely high risk of crime on its territory, such as armed robbery, theft, kidnapping and even murder. Travellers are a frequent target of local bandits. One of the main sources of violence are the drug cartels, which are notorious for their bestiality, including towards innocent civilians.
Thus, Mexico is one of the top destinations where not to go on holiday.
Ukraine
Until a few years ago, visits to the country were very popular, with Poles, for example, keen to visit cities such as Lviv, Kiev or the abandoned Chernobyl and Pripyat.
After the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the country has become an arena of warfare, and entering the country can put us in great danger. We should therefore abandon plans to go there.
Israel
Despite the worsening Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the years, the country with its capital in Jerusalem was a frequent destination for tourists from all over the world. Many people chose it as a holiday destination because of its religious significance. Others, however, could not resist the attractions of the Dead Sea, the Golan Heights or the party city of Tel Aviv.
According to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel is a country with a high terrorist threat. The matter worsened in October 2023, when martial law was imposed throughout the country. Military action in the Gaza Strip is a great danger that should dissuade us from taking a holiday in the area.
India
Dangerous countries for holidays are not just about the dangers of crime and armed conflict. A perfect example is India, where the problem is the sanitary conditions on the ground…. or rather the lack thereof.
On average in this country, 18.6 out of every 100,000 people die there due to extremely inadequate living conditions. In many areas there is no access to clean water. In addition, India is a country with poor infrastructure, abysmal health care and massive overcrowding.
Don’t let the phenomenal Taj Machal fool you – this country definitely looks nothing like it does on postcards…
South Africa
South Africa is ranked 130th on the 2023 Global Peace Index. It is also among the top countries with the highest homicide rate – as high as 36.4 per 100 000 people. One of the country’s biggest problems is the drastic disparity between rich and poor citizens.
The presence of shantytowns, or so-called slums, is causing organised crime to spread. Gang wars are also common. The organiser of the 2010 World Cup is one of the best examples of countries where we should not go on holiday.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is one of the rarest tourist destinations, chosen only by the most frenetic globetrotters. Haven’t we convinced you? There has been armed conflict on the territory of this South Asian country for many years. Moreover, kidnappings, terrorist attacks and human rights violations are the order of the day there. Still wondering?
Suffice it to say that the country with its capital in Kabul was ranked last, 163rd, in the 2023 Global Peace Index. Thus, when identifying dangerous countries for holidays, it is impossible to omit Afghanistan.
Brazil
The home of sports stars such as Ronaldinho, Pele and Ayrton Senna is a jewel in the eyes of tourists because of the scenery on offer, the attractions and much more.
However, the state with its capital in Brasilia is very dangerous. Many violent murders, kidnappings, thefts and rapes – especially of visitors – are recorded there. Other threats include natural factors such as wild animals, floods and the dengue virus.
South Sudan
This is another one of the unusual destinations that extreme adventure lovers tend to opt for. No wonder – the 160th place in the Global Peace Index only confirms that we should include South Sudan in the most dangerous countries for a holiday.
In addition to very poor hotel and communication facilities, armed clashes are taking place in this African country.
Venezuela
Once one of South America’s richest countries, now mired in a years-long crisis – Venezuela is one of the most interesting places on the continent’s map. Despite its interesting history and picturesque landscapes, however, it is a dangerous tourist destination.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly advises against any travel to the area, particularly around the borders with Colombia, Brazil and Guyana. This is primarily due to the high level of drug gang activity, as well as frequent mass protests and riots.
Colombia
As with its aforementioned neighbour, Colombia is a country with a high drug threat. In addition, armed robberies, thefts and. so-called flash kidnappings are the order of the day there. Tourists are a particularly vulnerable group to criminals.
The country, with its capital in Bogotá, is dangerous both in desolate places and in crowded city centres or on public transport.
Salvador
El Salvador is one of the more exotic destinations on our list of countries not to go on holiday to. Apart from the nightmarishly long journey of more than 24 hours, we should be dissuaded from visiting by the very high murder rate.
According to datapandas.org, there are more than 52 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in the state. This places El Salvador at the top of the list. In addition, widespread access to firearms increases the risk of robbery and kidnappings. The MFA strongly advises against trips to the area.
Niger
Our list of the most dangerous countries for a holiday closes with Niger – one of the poorest countries in the world. GDP per capita there is 573 US dollars. In addition to a high terrorist threat and a very unstable political situation, big problems among the citizens are hunger, as well as low levels of hygiene and infrastructure.
So if you are passionate about dangerous destinations and want to spend your holidays in extreme conditions – think hard. The MFA strongly advises against any trip to Niger.
Dangerous countries on holiday – FAQ
Wondering where to holiday abroad? Find out the answers to the most frequently asked questions about dangerous holiday destinations!
Is Turkey a safe country to holiday in?
Turkey is a country with an increased terrorist threat, particularly around the borders with Syria and Iraq. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends only the usual caution, as it is safe to stay in resorts and holiday resorts.
Which countries are better not to go to?
When planning a holiday abroad, we should steer clear of exotic destinations with high terrorist, military and criminal risks. We can check information on the security level of each country on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What are the dangerous countries?
We can verify the security of each country through the annual Global Peace Index report. According to the latest 2023 version, the most dangerous countries in the world are Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and South Sudan.
Is Tunisia a safe country?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends extreme caution when travelling to Tunisia. A state of emergency has been in force on its territory since 2015, as a result of which it is categorically forbidden to photograph government buildings and security officials. It is safe in the resort areas.